MAN CONVICTED OF STALKING AFTER FOLLOWING A WOMAN ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN PORTSMOUTH
UPDATE 17/10/2025: On Friday, 17 October, Philip Rooney, aged 48, appeared before Winchester Crown Court regarding two incidents on 21 July, a Monday.That day, Rooney approached a 16-year-old girl on Milton Lane in Portsmouth and touched her inappropriately over her clothing.
The girl returned home and informed her parents, who subsequently searched for Rooney.
Rooney was found and attempted to run away.
The girl’s father managed to hold him until police arrived.
During the arrest, Rooney head-butted the father multiple times, causing a bloody nose.
Rooney then escaped but was later identified by an officer, leading to his arrest the next day.
Following a jury trial on 15 September, Rooney was convicted at Winchester Crown Court of sexually assaulting the girl and assaulting her father.
Today, he was sentenced to a prison term of 14 months at the same court.
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A man has been convicted of stalking after multiple incidents in which he followed a woman from her workplace in Southsea.
Philip Rooney, aged 47 and residing in Waverley Road, Southsea, was found guilty by a jury on September 12th.
During a hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court, it was revealed that on the evening of Thursday, March 16th, 2023, a 21-year-old woman observed Rooney leaving her workplace and waiting outside.
When she departed shortly afterward, he followed her as she made her way home.
The woman saw Rooney again outside her workplace on March 27th, and he once more followed her to her residence, prompting her to contact friends, who agreed to meet her at a nearby shop on Elm Grove.
After she met her friends, Rooney ceased following her and left the scene.
The woman found both encounters upsetting and reported them to police.
An investigation was launched by Portsmouth’s investigative team, led by PC Hannah Kelleher.
CCTV footage captured Rooney’s actions, leading to his identification and interview.
He was subsequently detained and charged with stalking causing serious alarm or distress.
Rooney denied the charges, claiming his following was accidental.
However, after a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court this week, the jury found him guilty of stalking.
He has been released on bail and will return to court for sentencing on November 29th.
Officers PC Lucy Hallin and PC Hannah Kelleher from the Portsmouth Investigation Centre stated, “We would like to commend the courage of the victim in this case.
Hampshire and IOW Constabulary have a strong stance on tackling violence against women and girls and will continue to relentlessly pursue those who commit offences.”
